Canopy frame for bed

ABSTRACT

A canopy frame for a bed constructed of resilient plastic material in the longitudinally extending portions, and cross tie rods adapted to be dismembered for compact shipping and which are equipped with telescoping elements permitting adjustment for different lengths and widths of beds.

United States Patent [191 Gunter 1 CANOPY FRAME FOR BED [76] Inventor: Kenneth H. Gunter, 3285 Dato,

Highland Park, 111. 60035 [22] Filed: June 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 152,902

[52] US. Cl l35/5.2, 5/113, 5/362 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 29/00 [58] Field of Search 135/52; 5/113, 362;

287/54 C, 56, 119 R; 24/230 SC, 176, 206

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,311,118 3/1967 Gunter 135/52 June 26, 1973 3,237,217 3/1966 Desneux 5/362 3,072,402 1/1963 287/56 3,072,938 1/1963 287/119 R 3,049,778 8/1962 24/176 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney-Dawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus [57] ABSTRACT A canopy frame for a bed constructed of resilient plastic material in the longitudinally extending portions, and cross tie rods adapted to be dismembered for compact shipping and which are equipped with telescoping elements permitting adjustment for different lengths and widths of beds.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUNZB I978 SHEET 1 0F 2 PAIENIEuauuzs ma 3 741 225 SHEEI 2 0F 2 CANOPY FRAME FOR BED BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION The instant invention is an improvement on the knockdown canopy support described in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,31 1,118. In that patent, the frame was constructed of metal elements equipped with clips and the like for interconnection. Although the metal canopy support was an advantageous improvement over the previously provided wood frames, it lacked the bulk and esthetic appearance of the wood frames.

The instant invention not only avoids these disadvantages, but provides further advantages over the prior art frames in knocked down transport, assembly, and use in assembled condition. The inventive canopy frame includes two pairs of longitudinally extending members which are telescopically interconnected in each pair, and are crossconnected by a plurality of Iongitudinally spaced, transversely extending rods. Unique receptacle means are provided for the cross-tie pieces, and a unique telescopic connection is provided for the longitudinally extending members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is described in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inventive canopy frameshown associated with a bed in phantom line;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the frame of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the frame of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlargedfragmentary perspective view of one end of one of the side members of the inventive canopy frame;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the sight line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an end view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the telescopic connection of the longitudinal side members of the inventive frame;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the parts of the invention seen in FIG. 8, but inverted; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

In the illustration given, the numeral 10 designates generally the inventive frame which is seen to be installed on upstanding bedposts as at 11. The bedposts 11 are provided at the four corners of the frame of the usual bed 12.

As indicated in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,311,118, beds come in nominal sizes of about 39 inches wide and 54 inches wide. However, there is no exact standard for widths, and manufacturers depart from the nominal widths in many instances, over a range of about 2 inches. The inventive canopy frame is adjustable both in its width and length to accommodate departure from nominal size.

The frame 10 includes right and left longitudinal members 13. More precisely, each longitudinal member 13 is made up of two sub-members 14 and 15 which are telescopically interconnected at the area or point 16 (see FIG. 2). In the illustration given, the longitudinal sub-member 14 is equipped with a male fitting 17 which is received within the female fitting generally designated 18 of the sub-member 15 (see FIG. 8).

Each sub-member l4 and 15 at the ends thereof remote from the telescopic connection 16 is equipped with receptacle means 19 in the form of an integral sleeve which receives an end of a cross-tie rod 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 5).

In the illustration given, four intermediate tie rods 21 are provided to interconnect intermediate portions of the members 13, and for this purpose each longitudinal member 13 is equipped with a plurality of receptacles 22.

The receptacle 22, as can be seen from the enlarged showing in FIG. 6, includes a block generally designated 23 which is advantageously constructed of resilient plastic material. The block 23 is provided integral with the interior facing wall 24 of the associated longitudinal member 13. Each longitudinal sub-member 14 or 15, as the case may be, is channel-shaped in cross section over a major portion of the length thereof, being defined by sidewalls 24 and 25 and an interconnecting bottom wall 26. This results in the provision of an open top 27 which is obscured in use by the installation of the canopy cover. The block portion 23 is advantageously molded as an integral part of its associated member.

It will be seen that the adjacent wall 24 of the channel I or trough shape and the block 23 are equipped with an opening or through bore 28 which extends as at 29 completely through the remainder of the receptacle block 23. Thus, the cross-tie rod 21 not only is receivable to a greater or lesser extent within the block 23, but also can protrude into the trough shape of the longitudinal member 13 so far as to abut the wall 25.v In this fashion I provide a substantial distance of insertion of the cross-tie rods 21 whereby the width of the frame can be varied.

In this connection, it will be seen that the sleeve-like receptacle means 19 has a length (in the direction of the length of the end tie rod 20) about the same as the distance from the wall 25 to the interior face 30 of the receptacle block 23.

In the illustration given, I provide the rods 20 and 21 of metal, and construct the through bore 28 with a circular cross-section to conform essentially to the diameter of the associated rods 20 or 21, as the case may be. However, the nominal diameter of the bore 29 as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 (when the receptacle block 23 is free of its associated rod 21) is no greater than the diameter of the rod 21. This insures a tight fit, but to afford ease of insertion of the rod 21 into the through bore 28, l equip the receptacle block 23 with a slot 31. The slot 31 extends toward the wall 24 from the front face 30 a substantial distance in the direction of the axis of the through bore 28, i.e., about three-fourths of the axial length of the through bore 28. Additionally, I find it advantageous to taper the bore 28 in proceeding from the face 30 toward the side wall 24. This is a relatively shallow taper, but, again, affords additional anchorage for the received end of the tie rod 21.

In FIG. 2 it will be seen that the trough shape of each member 14 or 15 (defined by the walls 24-26) is transversely braced by a plurality of bracing elements 32.-

sures that no undue stress will be placed on the channel shape during the installation, i.e., the insertion of the done during molding as by itching of the die. In any.

event, it is desirable to avoid undue flexure of the trough shape, and this is achieved through the interrelationship of the bracing structure and receptacles described.

To provide for longitudinal adjustability, I enclose the trough shape of the sub-member by adding a top wall 18a adjacent the connection point 16 to provide the female fitting 18 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). Received within the female fitting 18 is a male fitting 17 which is seen to be made up of three longitudinally extending projections 33, 34, and 35. The projection 34 is arranged to be disposed in contact with the bottom wall 26 of thefemale fitting providing member 15, and is seen to beequipped with a latch button 36. The bottom wall 26 in the female fitting 18 is seen to be equipped with a plurality of button-receiving openings as at 37. Thus, the male fitting 17 can be inserted to a greater or lesser degree within the female fitting and anchored in place. The projection 34 is seen to be free of connection with the side wall projections 33 and 35 by the provisions of slots 38. Thus, the projection is freely flexing and insures a good secure fit in the connection 16. Advantageous bolstering of the connection between the male fitting 17 and the remainder of the sub-member 14 is achieved by a diagonal bracing. member 39 which is seen to partly into the smaller channel shape defined by the male fitting 17 and part way into the larger channel shape characteristic of the majority of the length'of the sub-member 14.

I claim:

1. A canopy bed frame comprising four longitudinal members and two lateral members adapted to be interconnected adjacent the ends thereof to form a generally rectangular frame, said longitudinal members being arranged in pairs to form arched sides of said frame, said longitudinal members being equipped with receptacle means for securing said end lateral members in releasable, adjustable fashion, and a plurality of intermediate lateral members releasably adjustably con nected between said longitudinal members, said longitudinal members being equipped with receptacles for securing said intermediate lateral members in releasably adjustable fashion, each longitudinal member being constructed of resilient plastic material and having bottom and side walls to provide an open-topped channel shape in cross section over a majority of the length thereof, a plurality of transverse bracing elements extending across said channel shape and located 1 along the length of each longitudinal member so as to position at least one bracing element adjacent each receptacle, each receptacle being a block integrated with one side wall of an associated longitudinal member and having a bore receiving its associated intermediate lateralmember, said lateral members being rods and said block bores being of circular cross section havinga di- 7 ameter no greater than the rod diameter, and slot means in said block communicating with said bore to permit bore enlargement upon receipt of said rod, said bore being tapered in proceeding toward said one wall. i 

1. A canopy bed frame comprising four longitudinal members and two lateral members adapted to be interconnected adjacent the ends thereof to form a generally rectangular frame, said longitudinal members being arranged in pairs to form arched sides of said frame, said longitudinal members being equipped with receptacle means for securing said end lateral members in releasable, adjustable fashion, and a plurality of intermediate lateral members releasably adjustably connected between said longitudinal members, said longitudinal members being equipped with receptacles for securing said intermediate lateral members in releasably adjustable fashion, each longitudinal member being constructed of resilient plastic material and having bottom and side walls to provide an open-topped channel shape in cross section over a majority of the length thereof, a plurality of transverse bracing elements extending across said channel shape and located along the length of each longitudinal member so as to position at least one bracing element adjacent each receptacle, each receptacle being a block integrated with one side wall of an associated longitudinal member and having a bore receiving its associated intermediate lateral member, said lateral members being rods and said block bores being of circular cross section having a diameter no greater than the rod diameter, and slot means in said block communicating with said bore to permit bore enlargement upon receipt of said rod, said bore being tapered in proceeding toward said one wall. 